Nassau LIE closures start Wednesday night

The Long Island Expressway will close between exits 37 and 39 Wednesday night both east- and westbound, the state Department of Transportation advises.

Closures will take effect westbound from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. and eastbound from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. while improvements are made to the HOV lane, said spokeswoman Eileen Peters.

The closures of this stretch will continue, weather permitting, nightly through Sunday, Aug. 9 between the Mineola/Willis Avenue exit (Exit 37) and the Northern State Parkway connector (Exit 39).

But on Monday and Tuesday nights, LIE closures will be extended further: between New Hyde Park Road (Exit 34) and NY Routes 106/107 (Exit 41) in both directions.

The closures are necessary, Peters said, to provide safety improvements recommended as part of a federal road safety assessment conducted last year following the death of police officer Michael Califano.

Traffic signals at LIE service road intersections will be re-timed to allow maximum traffic flow east- and westbound on the north and south LIE service roads, Peters said.

Drivers will be warned in advance of the closure via overhead electronic signs, but should use alternate routes or they will be detoured onto the service roads and experience delays, especially during the initial closure hours, she said.

Fines are doubled for speeding in a work zone and convictions of two or more speeding violations in a work zone can lead to suspension of a driver's license.

For updated traffic and travel information, drivers can call 511 or visit 511NY.org.